What are chemical peels?
Chemical peels are peeling agents
that use chemicals to resurface the skin, improving the skin’s appearance and
encouraging the growth of new skin.
Chemical peels aren't the same as
carbon laser peels! Click
here to learn the difference between the two.
What are the
different types of chemical peels and what are they used to treat?
There are a variety of chemical
peels that can be used to safely rejuvenate your skin. These range from
superficial formulations to deep peels that should only be administered by an
experienced doctor in a controlled setting.
Superficial peels generally consist of alpha hydroxyl acids (AHA),
which include naturally occurring fruit acids, such as glycolic, lactic,
citric, tartaric, and malic acids.
These are often used to improve
photo-aging from mild sun damage, acne scars, or fine wrinkles in all skin
types. They can be applied to the face or on other parts of the body. A
superficial peel can also be used to prepare the skin for a deeper peel.
Medium peels are typically accomplished with the use of
trichloroacetic acid (TCA). The degree and depth of application, as well as the
concentration of trichloroacetic acid used (up to 35%) can be customized
depending on your skin condition.
Another type of medium chemical
peel is the Jessner peel, which is designed to cause a higher degree of skin
resurfacing than an AHA peel. Jessner peels are made of salicylic acid, lactic
acid, as well as resorcinol.
Medium peels are used to treat
mild to moderate wrinkles, photo-aging from long-term sun damage,
hyperpigmentation, acne, as well as precancerous skin lesions typically caused
by sun exposure. Such peels are generally applied to the face.
Deep peels are the most aggressive type of chemical peels that
penetrate several layers of skin to produce skin rejuvenation from within. A
phenol peel is a type of deep peel that uses carbolic acid, the strongest type
of peeling agent available, to treat the skin. This allows for the production
of new collagen at a faster rate as compared to other peels.
Given the nature
of the active ingredients contained, deep peels are used only on the face.
Deep peels are most effective for
treating severe wrinkles, pronounced pigmentation spots, as well as lesions or
growths on the skin.
What can I expect
during the procedure?
Procedures may vary depending on the type of chemical peel
applied.
An experienced therapist will
cleanse your skin, followed by the application of a medical degreaser to ensure
that the treatment area is free of any oils. The chemical agent is then applied
and left on the treatment area for a controlled amount of time, after which
your skin is cleansed with cold water or a neutralizing agent to stop further
chemical reactions.
For light and medium chemical
peels, most patients tend to feel a mild prickly sensation, but this is temporary
and subsides within a few minutes. For deep peels, a local anaesthetic will be
applied to the treatment area to make your experience as comfortable as
possible.
How do I take care of
my skin after the procedure?
After a chemical peel of any
depth, patients must take care to avoid exposure to the sun, as well as refrain
from peeling or picking at flaking skin. The cleansing of the treatment area
should be done with mild cleansers, with liberal applications of moisturizers
and sunscreen to speed up the healing process.
Patients should schedule a review
with Dr. Kok 1 month after the treatment.
How long do the
results last?
Results vary depending on the depth of the peel chosen.
Are there any risks
or downtime?
After most chemical peels,
patients may experience a slight stinging sensation, as well as dryness,
peeling, or redness a few days after the peel. The stronger the chemical peel,
the longer the downtime.
For
superficial peels, there is often little to no downtime. Patients
might experience slight redness after the peel, but this should subside after a
few hours. You will be able to resume your daily activities immediately.
For
medium peels, patients will most likely experience skin peeling
that lasts about a week.
After
deep peels, patients will most likely experience redness, pain, and
raw sensations, which could require pain medication to ease the healing
process. While new layers of skin tend to surface 7 – 10 days after treatment,
complete healing will take about 2 months or longer.
Deep peels should not be used on
patients with darker skin tones as they tend to bleach the skin. Other side
effects of deep peels include permanently bleached skin that is much lighter
than other areas of the skin or scarring, especially if the skin does not heal
correctly.
At LS Aesthetic, we do not offer
deep chemical peels as the complications tend to outweigh the benefits. There
are safer and better treatment alternatives for this.
Am I suited for a
chemical peel?
Most patients who wish to treat
their acne, photodamaged skin or remove their fine wrinkles are generally
suited for chemical peels. However, it is advisable to give Dr. Kok your
accurate medical history, such as existing cardiac, liver, or diabetic
conditions as this will affect the choice of chemical peeling agent used. Based
on your medical history and his assessment of your skin condition, Dr. Kok will
advise the appropriate combination of chemical peels best suited for you.
To better prep your skin for your
chemical peel, it is best to use an exfoliative agent, such as tretinoin cream,
to facilitate the uniform penetration of the peeling agent and promote more
rapid growth of new skin.
Chemical peels should be avoided if you have any of the
following conditions:
-
Extremely sensitive or sunburnt skin
-
Active herpes infections
-
Usage of Accutane within the past year
-
Pregnant or breastfeeding women
-
Vitiligo
-
Aspirin allergies
-
History of radiation therapy or autoimmune
diseases
For other types of acne treatments that may be suitable for you, click here.
Call us at +65 6738 4700 or email us at enquire@lsaestheticclinic.com for more enquiries. We are conveniently located at #10-04 Wisma Atria Office Tower, 435 Orchard Road Singapore 238877.